Tuesday, February 3, 2009

The continuous heavy rains and flooding over the last couple of days have greatly affected communities on both east and west of GuadalcanalProvince. Reports received to date from the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) highlight 8 confirmed dead with 11 reported still missing and many injured.

The Solomon Islands Red Cross has deployed six emergency response trained staff and volunteers along with the Guadalcanal Provincial Disaster Council (PDC) led teams to do assessment and distribute some relief to the communities affected at the West Guadalcanal and Longu area, East Guadalcanal.

According to Mr. Sipuru Rove, the local Red Cross Disaster Manager, six personnel from the SIRC Headquarters, Auki, Lata, Gizo and Guadalcanal have been deployed to assess household needs in the emergency phase (first few days of the flooding) together with the NDMO while other organizations will do other sectoral assessments.

“Once assessments are complete, Red Cross will distribute supplies of non- food items; tarpaulins, basic kitchen utensils and blankets in this emergency phase because people affected are in need of these items”.

“Red Cross has already joined the NDMO joint assessment teams to do initial assessment of affected areas on Friday last week. My office is confident of data collected so far. But the team will continue with assessment including a rapid aerial assessment to be completed this afternoon ”, he said.

Last night the SI Red Cross volunteers and staff packed around 200 Family Relief kits from its disaster preparedness containers at its RiffleRange compound. These will be transported on board the Police Patrol boat as arranged with NDMO for distribution to the most affect areas. Movement partners of the Solomon Islands Red Cross are on standby to assist with further relief supplies and resources later required.

Brief Background of Solomon Islands Red Cross:Solomon Islands Red Cross Society, by the act of the National Parliament (a separate act from the Non Governmental Organizations Act) in 1983 established as an auxiliary (extra supporter) of the state dedicated to protecting human life and dignity in the Solomon Islands, thereby promoting lasting peace.

Hundreds of people in the Red Cross help those hurt by armed conflict, social disturbances, natural disasters, and other human tragedies. Victims around the country and region come to trust the people of the Red Cross to be there to provide important humanitarian services.

The people of the organization help anyone in urgent need. No regard is paid to political, racial, religious, or ideological differences. No point of view or person is favoured over another. Neither influence nor pressure will change these facts.

But the Solomon Islands Red Cross is more than a philosophy, or a historical institution. It is the part of a worldwide belief that human life and dignity are worthy of respect and protection from ravages of man and nature. It is a belief made real every day by the actions of skilled and trained people who are moved by a deep personal desire to help others without regard for their own material gain.

Red Cross members help people to prepare for, recover from, and, if possible, prevent the effects of tropical cyclones, floods, fires, sea level rise, diseases, or other disasters that threaten individuals or communities.They help people prevent and handle emergencies through Commercial and Community Based First Aid trainings and health skills. Where needed and possible, they save hundreds of lives by promoting reliable supply of blood. They also share the resources necessary to improve service to people throughout the Solomon Islands, regionally, and internationally. They give new direction in the lives of the disable children through special education to read and write in sign language. Today, disable children are our aspirations who contribute in making Solomon Islands a better place for humanity.

The financial support of individuals, business houses, donor friends, and governments makes this work possible.